Waiting On Wednesday (67): Glory O'Brien's History of the Future by A. S. King

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, in which bloggers talk about the books they are most eager for! 

This Week's Pick: Glory O'Brien's History of the Future by A. S. King

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Release Date: October 14th, 2014

WOULD YOU TRY TO CHANGE THE WORLD
IF YOU THOUGHT YOU HAD NO FUTURE?

Graduating from high school is a time of limitless possibilities—but not for Glory, who has no plan for what's next. Her mother committed suicide when Glory was only four years old, and she’s never stopped wondering if she will eventually go the same way...until a transformative night when she begins to experience an astonishing new power to see a person’s infinite past and future. From ancient ancestors to many generations forward, Glory is bombarded with visions—and what she sees ahead of her is terrifying.

A tyrannical new leader raises an army. Women’s rights disappear. A violent second civil war breaks out. And young girls vanish daily, sold off or interned in camps. Glory makes it her mission to record everything she sees, hoping her notes will somehow make a difference. She may not see a future for herself, but she’ll do everything in her power to make sure this one doesn’t come to pass.

In this masterpiece about freedom, feminism, and destiny, Printz Honor author A.S. King tells the epic story of a girl coping with devastating loss at long last—a girl who has no idea that the future needs her, and that the present needs her even more.

Although I've heard numerous things about her, I've never read a book by A. S. King. She's always been on my radar, but I haven't gotten around to grabbing one of her books. When I read the summary for Glory O'Brien's History of the Future though, I knew I was going to be fixing that very soon. A book about feminism, magical realism, AND mental health? Sign me right the heck up. I cannot wait to dive right into this one!

What are you waiting on this week?

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)

Top Ten Tuesday (8): Top Ten Books On My Fall TBR

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish in which bloggers post their "Top Ten" of whatever that week's theme is! This week's theme:

TOP TEN BOOKS ON MY FALL TBR 

So, today is the first full day of fall. *cue all the weepy tears* *counts down the days until summer returns*

I'm not a fan of Fall. In fact, I'm not really a fan of any season except for summer. You have to understand; being constantly cold and only able to feel truly warm when the sun is BLASTING on me makes fall/spring and ESPECIALLY winter unbearable. I don't like the cold, and fall is the first indicator that things are going to get FREEZING. 

So. Fall and I aren't on the best of terms.

There are somethings I love about fall, though. The beautiful changing leaves, Halloween, getting to wear fall boots and, of course, FALL BOOKS! Here are my top ten books on my fall TBR!

ARCS - Old and New 

10. Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld

- I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book (I nearly had a meltdown when I got it!) but it's big size has intimidated me! I am a massive Scott Westerfeld fan so I know it'll be great, but making time to read it is going to be difficult!

9. Shopaholic to the Stars (Shopaholic #7) by Sophie Kinsella

- NEW. SHOPAHOLIC. It's a shock I've managed to resist reading it this long, but it's next up on the list and I can't wait!

8. Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy

- It's RIDICULOUS that I STILL haven't read this book. *hangs head in shame*

Need To Get These Read

7. Rebel Belle (Rebel Belle #1) by Rachel Hawkins

- I told my friend Katie I hadn't read this yet AND Y'ALL. YOU SHOULD'VE SEE HER FACE. (It was thoroughly Unimpressed). I'm unimpressed. I mean, this was one of my most anticipated reads this year! I'm going to fix it STAT.

6. We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

- Another book I can't believe I haven't read yet. I'm going to find a day soon to just sit down and blast through it.

5. The Titan's Curse (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #3) by Rick Riordan

- Cause Percy Jackson, yo.

4. With All My Soul (Soul Screamers #7) by Rachel Vincent

- I know a few people who might see this book on my list and FLIP. Because the Soul Screamers series is one of my favourites and this book has been out for over a year. I just can't bear to see it all end. But, I will. Because I need some Tod in my life. 

New Books!

3. Not That Kind of Girl by Lena Dunham

- I don't normally read memoirs but I am ridiculously excited to read this one!

2. The Retribution of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer #3) by Michelle Hodkin

- I can't believe we're finally going to see how it all ends!

1. Blue Lily, Lily Blue (The Raven Cycle #3) by Maggie Stiefvater

- YOU GUYS. IT'S ALMOST HERE. *BOUNCES*

What books are on your fall TBR?

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)

   

Waiting on Wednesday (66): Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, in which bloggers talk about the books they are most eager for! 
 

This Week's Pick: Blue Lily, Lily Blue (The Raven Cycle #3) by Maggie Stiefvater

Publisher: Scholastic

Release Date: October 21st 2014

The third installment in the mesmerizing series from the irrepressible, #1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Maggie Stiefvater.

There is danger in dreaming. But there is even more danger in waking up.

Blue Sargent has found things. For the first time in her life, she has friends she can trust, a group to which she can belong. The Raven Boys have taken her in as one of their own. Their problems have become hers, and her problems have become theirs.

The trick with found things though, is how easily they can be lost.

Friends can betray.
Mothers can disappear.
Visions can mislead.
Certainties can unravel.

You guys, I just. I don't even think I can properly explain how excited I am for this book. The Raven Cycle is, without a doubt, my favourite series out there. It is incredible in every way and brings me joy like nothing else. I've never connected to a character like I do Gansey, and I've never had a story make me believe in magic quite like this one. So, to say I'm excited for this book is a SERIOUS understatement. I will be at the bookstore as soon as it opens so I can get this book in my hands. If you haven't read this series, you need to pick it up. It's the perfect story for anyone. (If you want to hear even more, check out my review of The Raven Boys).

And, in exciting news, I'll be in Toronto in November for the INSPIRE! Toronto International Book Fair where Maggie Stiefvater is doing a panel. There will be tears. And fan-girl flailing. And more tears. Just as a head's up.

What are you waiting on this week?

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight) 

Top Ten Tuesday (7): Top Ten Authors I've Only Read One Book From But NEED to Read More

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish in which bloggers post their "Top Ten" of whatever that week's theme is! This week's theme:

TOP TEN AUTHORS I'VE ONLY READ ONE BOOK FROM BUT NEED TO READ MORE 

Guys, this list kind of horrified me. It wasn't until I started writing it down that I realized I've only read one book from these incredible authors! I mean, some of them I have up in my favourites! I need to remedy this ASAP, because I am missing out on some hella amazing books. Here they are, in no particular order:
 

10. Nova Ren Suma

I KNOW. WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME? I read 17 & Gone by Nova Ren Suma last year and was obsessed with it. I hosted 17 & Gone Week, I did an awesome authors post on Nova, but I still haven't read Imaginary Girls! I think a part of me knows how great it's going to be and wants to wait in happy anticipation but with The Walls Around Us coming out early next year, I'm pumping Imaginary Girls up on my TBR ASAP. 

 

9. Morgan Matson

Despite my best intentions to have a Morgan Matson Marathon this summer, I only managed to read Amy & Roger's Epic Detour. I reeeeeally enjoyed it, and I've only heard good things about both her other novels. My problem? Her books are what I deem "summer books" (books about love and sun and friends and summer adventures). I can't read summer books in the fall or winter because I can't bear to look up from the book and remember it's cold/snowing out. So, I'll be saving these lovelies until the spring, when they can remind me of all the beauty summer with bring!

 

8. Abigail Haas

Have you guys read Dangerous Girls? Cause, if not, you need to get yourself that book ASAP. It will blow your mind! I was shell-shocked reading that book and it put Abigail Haas on my must-read-alllll-the-books list. I have a copy of Dangerous Boys on my shelf and I keep eyeing it whenever I walk by. I will be reading that one VERY soon.

 

7. Victoria Schwab

AGAIN, I KNOW. I can't believe I've only read The Archived by Victoria Schwab. I follow her on Twitter religiously (if you don't follow her GET ON THAT. She has such poignant and inspiring tweets. Also hilarious ones) and I looooved The Archived. I just haven't gotten to reading her other books yet, much to my shame. I have The Unbound and Vicious on my self though, so, hopefully I'll be picking those up soon.

6. Marie Lu

Despite wanting to read Legend since before it came out, I only picked it up a could months ago for book club. I could see right away why it was such a hit, and found myself craving more as soon as I was done. Now that Prodigy and Champion are out in paperback, I'll be finishing up this series in the next coming months. (Or weeks...or days...I don't know how long I can resist for!)

 

5. John Steinbeck

My classics reading has been sorely lacking over the years. I read a lot of Shakespeare, and I have a couple of my favourite classic books. But, when I read The Grapes of Wrath last semester for American Lit, I knew I had found a classic author to get obsessed about. The writing was stunning, the plot gutting, and I basically just want to run out and buy all the Steinbeck novels now.

 

4. Toni Morrison

Another author I read for American Lit and, despite some SERIOUS misgivings at the start, ended up loving. I'm definitely getting myself updated on Toni Morrison's backlist.

 

3. Mindee Arnett

As I said in my review, Avalon was just so dang great. Mindee Arnett crafted an awesome adventure, and I cannot wait for Polaris to come out. But! Mindee has another series, The Nightmare Affair, that I've been looking at since it's release. I need to get me some more Mindee Arnett books!

 

2. Sarah Rees Brennan

This. One. Boggled. Me. Probably because I took out The Demon's Lexicon from the library TWICE when it first came out (five years ago, y'all) but never got around to reading it. I finally bought myself a copy and STILL DIDN'T READ IT. Then, I got a copy of Unspoken and took a year to read that one! I am kicking myself for waiting that long because I absolutely fell in love with it. I own the whole series now, so I'm going to be having a Sarah Rees Brennan marathon very soon. Because, heck, she's a great writer! (Also Irish which makes me heart her even more).

 

1. Rainbow Rowell

Yeeeeah. This one is pretty shocking too. I've only read Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell! I bawled my eyes out reading it (in a good way!) and spent a lot of time hugging it after reading. Despite that, I still haven't picked any of her other books. ONE OF THESE DAYS, READERS. ONE OF THESE DAYS.

What authors do you need to read more from?

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)

Review: Sisters by Raina Telgemeier

Title: Sisters

Series: Smile (#2)

Author: Raina Telgemeier

Publisher: Graphix/Scholastic

Release Date: September 1st, 2014

Source: ARC received for an honest review

My Rating: 4/5

Raina can't wait to be a big sister. But once Amara is born, things aren't quite how she expected them to be. Amara is cute, but she's also a cranky, grouchy baby, and mostly prefers to play by herself. Their relationship doesn't improve much over the years, but when a baby brother enters the picture and later, something doesn't seem right between their parents, they realize they must figure out how to get along. They are sisters, after all.

Raina uses her signature humor and charm in both present-day narrative and perfectly placed flashbacks to tell the story of her relationship with her sister, which unfolds during the course of a road trip from their home in San Francisco to a family reunion in Colorado. (Summary from Goodreads)

I first heard about Raina Telgemeier when I started working for Chapters almost two years ago. My coworkers mentioned Smile and Drama, highlighting them as one of the top graphic novels in middle grade. I was very curious! So, when I spotted a copy of Smile at the thrift store, I snatched it up immediately. I actually read it that day (in one sitting!) and loved every little bit of it. Fast-forward almost a year and I'm back at work. I noticed that my manager had an ARC of Sisters sitting on her desk. Oh so casually, I asked her if she was liking it. She said yes and asked if I wanted it, citing her busy schedule as a reason she couldn't finish it in time. I practically leaped on her to take it and read it the very next day. Sisters was the perfect follow up to Telgemeier's fabulous Smile and I loved every panel of it!

I've mentioned it before, but my only child status makes me constantly curious about sibling relationships. It was really interesting to get to dive right into the ups and downs of these two siblings. Raina and Amara bickered and fought and teased and yelled but they clearly cared about each other so much. Even when they were fighting, there was this connection between the two of them that was so easy to see. I loved the flashbacks of their life growing up, the little anecdotes that gave snapshots of their relationship. It really added an extra layer to the story and gave that overall look at how these two girls got to grow up together.

Although I don't have any siblings, I definitely can relate to the stress and insanity of a long distance family road trip, and wondering where you fit in within your extended family. Just like Raina, I felt out of place within my own family. I have a lot of older cousins (I'm the youngest by five/six years) and that age gap really affected me when I was a young teen. That age is just so rough in general, and I totally sympathized with Raina and how lost she felt. I think a lot of people, young and old, will be able to read Sisters and see bits of their own childhood in it.

Sisters was just such fun. I couldn't wait to read it and didn't want to stop once I'd started. Raina Telgemeier weaves such an enjoyable story with lovable characters; the illustrations are so well done and the dialogue is realistic, combining to create a great graphic novel. Sisters explores family dynamics, growing up, and those painful-but-hilarious childhood road trips with humor and heart and ugh, I can't wait for more from her.

Sisters is a quick read, lots of fun, and book I recommend you read. Get ready to laugh aloud and have your heart warmed, because Raina Telgemeier has crafted one great story.

- Ciara (Lost at Midnight)